Arizona may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of vineyards. You may be amazed at the tasty varieties that grow here in the southwest.
National Drink Wine Day is on February 18 and National Wine Day is on May 25. Or if you’re like us any day is a good day to drink wine. Arizona has three regions to explore wineries.
Arizona Wineries
- Verde Valley
- Wilcox
- Sonoita
Next time you are visiting southern Arizona or the Verde Valley try a glass of wine from grapes grown here in the southwest. Check out some of these Arizona wineries:
Verde Valley Wineries: Wine Trail
The Verde Valley Wine Trail is two hours north of Phoenix. Six wineries and eight tasting rooms will take you through the quaint towns of Cottonwood, Clarkdale, Jerome, Camp Verde, Page Springs, and Cornville.
Verde Valley has some fantastic wines and the scenery is beautiful in this area as well. Take some time to explore the little towns while you are here.
Cottonwood Wine Trail
Walking around downtown Cottonwood is a quaint place to grab a bite to eat and try out some of the local wines. There are several wineries within walking distance of each other. At the wineries you can order a white flight, red flight or a combo flight of reds and whites.
We enjoyed the Arizona Stronghold winery located in downtown Cottonwood. It was hard to choose a favorite, but we really liked Bruzzi Vineyard Vidal Blanc. Burning Tree Cellars had a nice red wine called “The Bear.”
Clarkdale Wine Center
The Southwest Wine Center is a short drive in Clarkdale. We got a combo flight and enjoyed the red wine called Big Red. It was named after a local wolf.
Grapes used in Arizona wines are often grown in southern Arizona near Sonoita. Some grapes are grown in Payson. There are a few vineyards in the Verde Valley. One of our favorite vineyards is in Page Springs. Enjoy the beautiful scenery while sipping on some local Arizona wines.
Verde Valley Wine Festivals
The Verde Valley has several wine festivals including the Verde Valley Wine Festival in May, and the Sedona Winefest in September.
Wilcox Wineries
Wilcox is 80 miles southeast of Tucson. Each year they celebrate with two wine festivals, one in the fall (October) and one in the spring (May). With an elevation around 4,000 feet, Wilcox enjoys mild weather and fertile grounds for grapes.
